I just read my post and it seems a little curt. I'm sorry; I certainly did not mean it that way. The little dead bird in the nest was all dried out and hard as a rock. I think it had been dead for more than a week but was too large for the parents to take out. The wing that I found ~25 feet away from the box still had moist flesh on it. That's why I think it was a hawk. Although a raccoon could have taken it. There was no other sign of the bird. Linda C

Sorry to hear about the snake! I have noticed on the purple martin forum they use nets around their poles too. That might help. Snakes usually remember so maybe hope that a hawk or something will eat this particular snake. Wish i could give you some better advice but i have none. Sorry. Can this nestbox be relocated? Best of luck. Bonnie

My guess would be that the ones nesting in the front yard now are a new pair, or they would keep coming when they hear that whistle. Most likely when the backyard pairs nesting fledged the new pair took over that territory. While it is possible to get two pairs of bluebirds with a house in between, it won't always happen. It all depends on what the first male thinks is his territory. Once the nestlings fledge though they go out of their territory so they no longer have one persay. The new pair probably took up residence in the other males absence and now they rules the yard. Whether or not the old male comes back to reclaimn his backyard territory is now up to the front yard male...depends on where he thinks his territory is now. A bluebirds territory is approx 100 yds around the nestbox. Your old pair may come back..sometimes it takes a week or two to start another nesting...but they might not come back now either because of the other male in the front yard. Hard to tell what will happen...you will just have to watch and see. You may need to train the front yard blues now to come to the mealworms. Good luck! Donna

I added the frames to my second brood box that I was only using to cover the syrup feeding jars. After inspecting the hive for the second time about seven of the frame have comb on them.